Report: Scotland U20 19-61 Ireland U20

Tries from Matthew Fick, Alex Bryden and Joe Roberts saw Scotland go in a score behind at the break before Ireland pulled away in the second half.

Under a minute into his U20 debut, Matthew Fick had his first try. Good hands under pressure in midfield from Jake Dalziel put Alex Bryden through through, and two phases later the scrum-half forced his way over in the corner. (5-0, 1 min)

Ireland got themselves level with an overlap down the right, as Sean Walsh broke up the touchline and found Rob Carney on his inside. (5-5, 8 mins)

And Carney scored a fortuitous second, Charlie O’Shea’s kick evading Daniel Kelly and sitting up perfectly for him on the left wing. O’Shea converted. (5-12, 14 mins)

Scotland got back level with a fantastically worked try from the backs. Nairn Moncrieff made the initial break up the right, and found Sam Leweni on his inside who looked to be away, but when he was caught he showed excellent vision and calmness to offload one-handed to Bryden who dived under the posts. Dalziel converted. (12-12, 18 mins)

Another break up the right saw Ireland retake the lead, with several offloads in the 22 before Daniel Ryan finished. O’Shea converted. (12-19, 25 mins)

It was the forwards who got Scotland back level. A driving maul on the right that started outside the 22 with 6 foot 10 lock Alfie Blackett’s catch was brought down less than a metre short, and Joe Roberts broke off the back and finished. Dalziel converted. (19-19, 31 mins)

Ireland regained the lead with less than five minutes remaining of the half, the looping pass from O’Shea finding Noah Byrne on the right wing. O’Shea converted (19-26, 37 mins)

Half time: Scotland U20 19-26 Ireland U20

Another kick that bounced kindly for Ireland lead to their fifth score as Christopher Barrett gathered on the right and dived over. O’Shea converted. (19-33, 50 mins)

It was then the turn of the forwards to score from a kick to the left corner. The maul got close, and two phases later Rian Handley burrowed over. Dan Green converted. (19-40, 55 mins)

A try almost exactly the same as the last in it’s finish came four minutes later. After Scotland have recovered well to stop a try for the backs in Ireland’s left corner, they couldn’t stop Jack Deegan a phase later who forced the ball down. Green converted. (19-47, 59 mins)

After a water break on the hour mark, replicating what will happen in Georgia because of the hot conditions expected during the Junior World Championship starting at the end of the month, the scoring continued for Ireland, with Johnny O’Sullivan gathering Green’s cross-field kick to the left and dancing inside and over. Green converted. (19-54, 65 mins)

From a tap penalty five metres out, Ireland wrestled over for a final try as Diarmaid O’Connell got the grounding. Green converted again. (19-61, 75 mins)

Full time: Scotland U20 19-63 Ireland U20

Scotland U20: 15. Henry Widdowson (Edinburgh Rugby) 14. Daniel Kelly (Watsonian FC) 13. Sam Leweni (Edinburgh Rugby) 12. Alex Bryden (Glasgow Warriors) 11. Nairn Moncrieff (Edinburgh Rugby) 10. Jake Dalziel (Merchiston Castle School/Melrose RFC) 9. Matthew Fick (Edinburgh Rugby) 1. Will Pearce (Cardiff Metropolitan University/Bristol Bears) 2. Joe Roberts (Glasgow Warriors) 3. Ollie Blyth-Lafferty – Captain (Edinburgh Rugby) 4. Alfie Blackett (Cardiff Metropolitan University) 5. Dan Halkon (Glasgow Warriors) 6. Sam Byrd (Edinburgh Rugby) 7. Harvey Preston (Glasgow Hawks) 8. Harry Jackaman (Watsonian FC)

Replacements: 16. Joe Roberts (Glasgow Warriors) 17. Jamie Stewart (Edinburgh Rugby) 18. Jackson Rennie (Glasgow Warriors) 19. Fin Mather (Grammar Tec) 20. Archie Appleby (Northampton Saints) 21. Rory Purvis (Glasgow Warriors) 22. Rory Baxter (GHA RFC) 23. Oliver Finlayson-Russell (University of St Andrews) 24. Hamish MacArthur (Edinburgh Rugby) 25. Calum Jessop (Heriot’s Rugby) 26. Harry Soboil (Edinburgh Rugby) 27. Rory McHaffie (Edinburgh Rugby) 28. Harry Provan (Glasgow Warriors) 29. Daniel Cruickshanks

Ireland U20: 15. Noah Byrne 14. Charlie Molony 13. Rob Carney 12. James O’Leary 11. Daniel Ryan 10. Charlie O’Shea 9. Christopher Barrett 1. Max Doyle 2. Duinn Maguire 3. Sami Bishti – Captain 4. Sean Walsh 5. Dylan McNeice 6. Josh Neill 7. Alex Lautsou 8. Diarmaid O’Connell

Replacements: 16. Rian Handley 17. Adam Cooper 18. Jamie Conway 19. Paddy Woods 20. Charlie Keane 21. Ben Blaney 22. James O’Dwyer 23. Dan Green 24. Johnny O’Sullivan 25. Derry Moloney 26. Jack Deegan 27. Sean Walsh 28. Blake McClean